Wall vent and flushing method using same

ABSTRACT

A venting outlet ( 1 ) for a drinking water supply system of an aircraft is proposed, having an inlet opening ( 3 ) which is arranged on a rear side of the venting outlet and is intended for receiving a venting fluid, in particular air, from the drinking water supply system, and further having a venting opening ( 6 ) arranged on a front side of the venting outlet and intended for discharging at least some of the received venting fluid to an external surroundings of the venting outlet ( 1 ). According to the invention, the venting outlet ( 1 ) further comprises a flushing connection ( 5 ) and a cover ( 4 ) which can be mounted on the flushing connection ( 5 ) and can be removed therefrom and which has at least one through-hole ( 16 ), wherein the venting opening ( 6 ) is formed by the at least one through-hole ( 16 ) in the cover ( 4 ) mounted on the flushing connection ( 5 ), and the flushing connection ( 5 ) is designed, only with the cover ( 4 ) removed from the flushing connection ( 5 ), for coupling a flushing fluid line ( 55 ) on the front side of the venting outlet and for introducing a flushing fluid, in particular drinking water, through the flushing connection ( 5 ) to the inlet opening ( 3 ) of the venting outlet. Also proposed are a wall element having the proposed venting outlet and a flushing method for a drinking water supply system with use of the proposed venting outlet.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US-national stage of PCT applicationPCT/EP2017/052681 filed 8 Feb. 2017 and claiming the priority of U.S.provisional application 62/293,168 filed 9 Feb. 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vent outlet for a drinking watersupply system of an aircraft and having an intake port provided on arear end of a vent-outlet fitting for receiving a vent fluid,particularly air, from the drinking-water supply system, and also havinga vent port on an outer end of the vent-outlet fitting for feeding atleast a portion of the vent fluid received to the surroundings of thevent-outlet fitting.

The invention further relates to a wall element for a galley with a ventoutlet of the type described immediately above.

The invention also relates to a method of flushing a drinking watersupply system of an aircraft with such a wall element and vent outlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Today's aircraft, particularly airplanes, are equipped with adrinking-water supply system. The drinking-water supply system comprisesa drinking water tank with drinking-water supply lines connected theretothrough which drinking water can be conveyed to points of use. Thepoints of use are particularly in an on-board kitchen, also called agalley, of the aircraft. Such a point of use is a drinking water tap,for example, from which the air crew can draw drinking water. Such apoint of use can also be a device for preparing foods and/or beverages,such as a steam oven, for example, to which drinking water can be fedfor internal steam generation via a drinking-water supply line of thedrinking-water supply system, or a beverage preparation apparatus.

For the drinking water to be available through the drinking-water supplylines within a predefined pressure range, the drinking-water supplysystem comprises at least one air bleed valve through which excess airthat is particularly introduced during filling of the drinking-watersupply system can be discharged from the drinking-water supply system.

The air bleed valve is connected on the intake side to a drinking-watersupply line. On the outlet side, the at least one air bleed valve isconnected to a vent line. If several air bleed valves are provided inthe drinking-water supply system, they can all be connected on theoutlet side to a common vent line. The outlet end of such a vent line ormain vent line is a vent outlet with a vent port for outputting the airto be discharged from the drinking-water supply system to the externalsurroundings of the drinking-water supply system, that is, to theinterior of the aircraft. Today, this vent outlet is often embodied asan open hose end that is provided in a concealed manner in a cabinet orcompartment designed to receive trolleys, often in a bottom pan of atrolley.

Normally, only excess air is discharged from the drinking-water supplysystem as vent fluid via the vent line or main vent line and out of thevent outlet. In the event of a defective vent valve, however, water canalso emerge from the vent outlet together with air as vent fluid.

The drinking-water supply system must be cleaned and disinfectedregularly. For this purpose, the entire drinking-water supply system,including the points of use, is flooded with a cleaning and disinfectantfluid. Before the subsequent resumption of the normal use of thedrinking-water supply system, the entire drinking-water supply systemmust first be flushed several times with drinking water in order toensure that no cleaning and disinfectant fluid remains in thedrinking-water supply system.

The thorough flushing of the vent valves has proven to be especiallylaborious. Today, in order to perform the flushing, the vent valves arefed drinking water via the drinking-water supply lines of thedrinking-water supply system.

The above-described systems used today in aircraft for thedrinking-water supply require a great amount of cleaning and flushingeffort and can impair the operational safety of the aircraft in theevent of a defective vent valve.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide atechnical solution for a drinking-water supply system of an aircraftthat reduces the effort required to flush the drinking-water supplysystem including the vent valve thereof while preferably increasing theoperational safety of the drinking-water supply system in the event of adefect in a vent valve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is attained by the vent-outletfitting described below for a drinking-water supply system of anaircraft. An intake port for receiving a vent fluid from thedrinking-water supply system is provided on the rear end of thevent-outlet fitting. The intake port forms the inlet-side closure of anintake pipe that is designed to couple the vent-outlet fitting with avent line or main vent line of the drinking-water supply system. A ventport for discharging at least a portion of the received vent fluid toexternal surroundings of the vent-outlet fitting is on an outer end ofthe vent-outlet fitting turned away from the rear end.

The invention is based on the discovery that the flushing process can beaccelerated substantially if, in drinking-water supply systems usedtoday in aircraft that are provided with at least one vent valve, the atleast one vent valve is supplied in a cleaning and flushing mode of thedrinking-water supply system with a flushing fluid, particularlydrinking water, from the vent port, that is, counter to the direction ofthe vent flow when discharging the vent fluid (during normal operationof the drinking-water supply system).

In order to introduce the flushing fluid, the proposed vent-outletfitting further has a flushing connection. The flushing connection iscoupled with the intake port by a flow passage such that a flushingfluid that is fed in at the flushing connection can be conveyed to theintake port and emerges therefrom. For example, the intake port can beprovided at an inlet pipe portion of the flushing connection, in whichcase the inlet pipe portion transitions into a flushing pipe portionthat forms the flushing connection. This transition can be configured inthe direction from the flushing pipe portion to the inlet pipe portionwith or without a taper or widening.

In addition, the proposed vent-outlet fitting has a cover that can beplaced onto and removed from the flushing connection. The cover isprovided with at least one through hole. The at least one through holeonly forms the vent port of the vent-outlet fitting if the cover ismounted on the flushing connection. Preferably, the cover is notprovided with only one through hole, but with a plurality of throughholes that form the vent port. The through hole or through holes aredesigned to allow the vent fluid to pass through the cover and enablethe vent fluid to pass through the vent port at the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting.

The flushing connection is designed for connection to a flushing-fluidline on the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting and to introduce theflushing fluid through the flushing connection to the intake port of thevent-outlet fitting only when the cover is removed from the flushingconnection. When the cover is mounted on the flushing device, theflushing connection cannot be coupled with a flushing-fluid line inorder to introduce the flushing fluid into the flushing connection.Therefore, the concept of the cover mounted on the flushing connectionis understood such that the cover is in a mounted state in which the useof the flushing connection by connecting a flushing-fluid line therewithis not possible. The placement of the cover on the flushing connectioncan be achieved by positioning the cover on an outer end of the flushingconnection, for example by pushing it on or twisting the cover onto theflushing connection. Optionally or alternatively, the placement of thecover on the flushing connection can include positioning the cover on aninner portion of the flushing connection, such as by introduction,pushing-in, plugging-in, or insertion of the cover into the flushingconnection. The cover and the flushing connection of the proposedvent-outlet fitting are appropriately embodied so as to achieve theabove-described mutual mechanical contact with one another.

In order to enable the vent fluid to flow from the intake port along thevent flow direction to the vent port, a vent flow passage is formed inthe proposed vent-outlet fitting. In order to enable the vent fluid toflow to the vent port along a flush flow direction that runs counter tothe vent flow direction, a flush flow passage is formed in the proposedvent-outlet fitting. Apart from the vent port provided only for theflush flow passage, the vent flow passage and the flush flow passage arepreferably formed by a common, preferably identical, flow passage.

When the cover has been removed from the flushing connection, theproposed vent-outlet fitting enables easy connection of a flushing-fluidline to a drinking-water supply system of an aircraft to be flushed.Flushing fluid can be conveyed from the flushing-fluid line that iscoupled with and/or connected to the flushing connection of thevent-outlet fitting through the flushing connection to the intake portin order to be conveyed further counter to the vent flow directionprovided for the discharging of a vent fluid to at least one vent valveof the drinking-water supply system. The proposed vent-outlet fittingthus enables quick and easy flushing of the drinking-water supplysystem.

If the proposed vent-outlet fitting is not configured for flushing butfor regular venting, namely through the cover that is mounted on theflushing connection, then if a defect occurs in a vent valve that iscoupled with the vent-outlet fitting via a vent line or main vent line,a fluid contained in the vent fluid, particularly (former) drinkingwater, can emerge from the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting,specifically through the at least one through hole of the cover that ismounted in a dedicated position. This enables easy detection of adefect, at least of a vent valve of the drinking-water supply system,thereby increasing the operational safety of the drinking-water supplysystem.

In a development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting, the cover mountedon the flushing connection covers a portion of the flushing connectionthat is provided for connection to the flushing-fluid line at leastpartially. This effectively prevents a flushing-fluid line from beingconnected to the flushing connection during normal operation of thedrinking-water supply system, that is, outside of the cleaning andflushing mode. This increases the operational safety of thedrinking-water supply system.

In a development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting, the cover isformed as a perforated cap. The cap is perforated with at least onethrough hole, preferably a plurality of through holes. Preferably, eachthrough hole has a maximum, preferably uniform, passage width or maximumdiameter of 0.8 mm. The cap is preferably designed to be mounted on anouter portion of the flushing connection, for example for pushing-on,twisting, and/or plugging of the cap onto the flushing connection, sothat a mechanical contact is brought about between the inner surface ofthe cap formed as an internal thread or a seal ring that is received inthe cap, for example, and the outer surface of the flushing connectionformed as a raised area or cross-sectional diameter increase, forexample. By virtue of the good accessibility of this cover, the manualplacement and removal of the seal from the flushing connection is madepossible, so that the drinking-water supply system can be quicklyflushed. The cover can preferably only be removed from the flushingconnection by loosening or releasing a detent provided on the coverand/or the flushing connection. The detent can preferably only beloosened or released by use of a specific tool. This ensures that onlymaintenance staff can put the vent-outlet fitting into the configurationfor cleaning and flushing mode. A glance at the cover formed as a captells maintenance staff of the drinking-water supply system quickly andunambiguously how the flushing connection can be rendered usable forconnection to a flushing-fluid line.

Furthermore, in a development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting the atleast one through hole of the cover has a maximum passage width ormaximum diameter of 0.8 mm. In one embodiment of the cover with aplurality of through holes that form the vent port, all of these throughholes preferably have no more than the above-described maximum passagewidths or diameters. Preferably, all the through holes are identical.The limitation of the maximum passage width or diameter ensures that thevent port has such a hygienic and contaminant-free design and no dirt,insects, or pathogens are able to penetrate through the proposedvent-outlet fitting into the drinking-water supply system. Hygienicspecifications such as those of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)can thus be satisfied.

In a development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting, the cover and/orthe flushing connection has a removal-inhibiting means for preventingunintended removal of the cover mounted on the flushing connection fromthe flushing connection. The concept of unintended removal includes theaccidental removal of the cover by staff, for example by simple contactwith the cover, and the loosening of the cover from the flushingconnection without the direct action of a person, for example as aresult of the vent fluid flowing through the cover or due to vibrationduring flight.

In a development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting, the flushingconnection has a fastening formation for connecting the flushing-fluidline by a quick-action fastener and/or a screw closure. Withoutrestriction thereto, the fastening formation and/or the flushingconnection can be designed according to standard ABS1169 of the aircraftmanufacturer Airbus. The fastening formation is designed for a tight fitwhen used in conjunction with a flushing-fluid line that is coupled withthe flushing connection between the flushing connection and theflushing-fluid line in order to prevent unintended detachment of theflushing-fluid line from the flushing connection. Preferably, thefastening formation is formed as a portion of the flushing connectionwith a local cross-sectional thickening or a recessed groove. Theflushing-fluid line formed with such a flushing connection then has, atthe end thereof that is provided for connecting with the flushingconnection, a detent deflected by a spring force that can be temporarilyreleased in order to detach the flushing-fluid line from the flushingconnection by application of an opposite force to the detent bydisplacement of a ring, lever, or pawl, for example.

In a further development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting, thefastening formation is also formed as the above-describedremoval-inhibiting means for preventing unintended removal of the covermounted on the flushing connection from same. This makes a compact andeconomical design of the flushing connection possible, because thefastening formation of the flushing connection is designed both forpositioning and holding the cover and for connecting a flushing-fluidline.

Furthermore, in a development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting, thevent-outlet fitting further comprises on its outer end a removable frontpanel that, when in the installed state, secures the cover mounted onthe flushing connection against unintended removal in the sense definedabove, that is, against unintended manual removal or loosening withoutexternal influences from the flushing connection. The term “removedfront panel” is understood to mean that the front panel is not currentlycapable of blocking the removal of the cover from the flushingconnection due to a change in position caused by a user.

According to this development, the proposed vent-outlet fitting is thenformed such that, when the front panel is removed, the cover mounted onthe flushing connection can be removed from the flushing connection inorder to then connect a flushing-fluid line to the flushing connection.The front panel can be installed with or without specific tools on theouter end of the vent-outlet fitting. The term “removal” is understoodto mean the taking-off of the front panel from the vent-outlet fitting,a twisting of the front panel, and/or a folding-over of the front panel.The front panel and the cover can be formed such that a tapered portionof the cover mounted on the flushing connection is inserted into anopening of the installed front panel and fixed and/or secured to theedge of the opening by mechanical contact. Preferably, the cover and thefront panel are designed so as to be fixable to one another byrespective portions of the cover and front panel with different openingwidths and/or diameters in relation to one another that are provided forthe mutual mechanical contact.

In a further development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting, the coveris and/or can be integrated at least partially into the front panel. Thevent-outlet fitting is then formed such that the removal of the frontpanel also results in removal of the cover from the flushing connection.This enables quick and easy access to the flushing connection. At thesame time, the cover integrated into the front panel can thus be bettersafeguarded from loss after removal from the flushing connection.

In yet a further development of the last-mentioned development of theproposed vent-outlet fitting, the front panel is designed to be held bythe cover and/or the flushing connection. The front panel has a throughhole or recess for this purpose, for example, that can be plugged ontothe cover that is mounted on the flushing connection. For example, whenin the installed state, the front panel is fixed in place by at leastone removable mounting screw or other fastener. According to thisdevelopment, after loosening and removal of the mounting screw(s), thefront panel then continues to be held, particularly directly by thecover mounted on the flushing connection and indirectly by the flushingconnection. According to this development, when the front panel isinstalled again, it can be held initially only by the cover mounted onthe flushing connection, so that the mounting screw(s) can be easilyinserted and tightened.

Furthermore, in a development of the proposed vent-outlet fitting a leakindicator is provided on the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting,particularly in the front panel. The leak indicator is designed toindicate that drinking water has leaked into the vent system, forexample as a result of a defective vent valve being coupled with theproposed vent-outlet fitting. In the event of such a leak, the ventfluid fed to the vent-outlet fitting contains not only air but alsowater. The leak indicator can be formed as an alarm unit for signaling aleak, such as a blinking lamp, for example, that is coupled with asensor for detecting water in the vent fluid. In one especially simpleembodiment, the leak indicator can be formed by the vent port inconjunction with lettering provided on the outer end of the vent-outletfitting. In the event of a leak, water emerges from the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting. The lettering is such that the air crew and/ormaintenance staff gains information about the presence of a leak fromwater that has emerged or is emerging on the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting and any residues from emerging water that may bepresent on the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting.

The object of the present invention is also achieved by a wall elementfor a galley, particularly of an aircraft, as well as by a galley withsuch a wall element. The wall element comprises a vent-outlet fittingaccording to one of the above-described embodiments, developments,further developments, and any combination of features of a vent-outletfitting according to the invention. The wall element is designed to beinstalled in this way in the galley, and the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting is positioned so as to be directly reachable by andpreferably visible to a user of the galley, particularly air crew. Inthe installed state, that is, when being used in a galley, the wallelement preferably forms a wall surface of the galley. The wall elementis preferably designed to be installed in a galley adjacent a point ofuse of the drinking-water supply system, such as a steam oven or abeverage preparation apparatus, or forms a part of a point of use in theinstalled state.

Since the vent-outlet fitting that can be used to flush thedrinking-water supply system is provided in the galley so as to bedirectly reachable, accessible, and visible, maintenance staff canquickly and easily flush the drinking-water supply system, particularlythe vent valves thereof that are coupled with the vent-outlet fitting.Tedious access to maintenance devices of the drinking-water supplysystem that are concealed during normal operation of the galley iseliminated. What is more, by virtue of the good visibility of the ventport of the vent-outlet fitting, the aircrew can quickly identify a leakat a vent valve of the drinking-water supply system, and operationalsafety is increased.

Furthermore, in a development of the wall element and/or of the galley,the wall element is designed to be installed in this way in the galley,and it is provided adjacent a sink of the galley and/or forms the sinkat least in part, and the vent-outlet fitting is provided above, at,and/or in the sink of the galley in order to catch liquid emerging atthe outer end of the vent-outlet fitting in the sink. Since water thatemerges from the vent-outlet fitting in the event of the leaking of avent valve of the drinking-water supply system is dischargedautomatically via the sink, operational safety is increased.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a proposed method offlushing a drinking-water supply system of an aircraft that is providedwith at least one vent valve. The method is aimed at a drinking-watersupply system that comprises a vent-outlet fitting according to any oneof the above-described embodiments, developments, further developments,and any combination of features, with the intake port of the vent-outletfitting being coupled with at least one vent valve of the drinking-watersupply system in order to receive the vent fluid. The vent-outletfitting is preferably provided in a galley of the aircraft.

In the proposed flushing method, the cover of the vent-outlet fitting isfirst removed from the flushing connection of the vent-outlet fitting.If the vent-outlet fitting has a front panel according to one of thedevelopments proposed above, then the front panel can first be removedbefore the last-mentioned step such that the cover can be removed fromthe flushing connection. A flushing-fluid line is then coupled with theflushing connection on an outer end of the vent-outlet fitting. Aflushing fluid, particularly drinking water, is then introduced from thecoupled flushing-fluid line into the flushing connection and conveyedvia the intake port of the vent-outlet fitting to the at least one ventvalve. The proposed method enables quick and easy flushing of adrinking-water supply system, particularly the vent valve thereof, of anaircraft.

After flushing with the flushing fluid, the proposed method can comprisethe step, in order to dry and/or preserve the cleaned and flusheddrinking-water supply system, of introducing a drying fluid,particularly air or another gas, into the drinking-water supply system,particularly into the drinking-water supply lines and venting valve(s)thereof. This introduction is preferably performed in whole or in partvia the flushing connection of the proposed vent-outlet fitting. Theintroduction of the drying fluid can be done by for example blowing airinto the flushing connection.

In another development of the proposed method, in order to carry out themethod steps, maintenance staff merely accesses the cover and theflushing connection from the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting.

Furthermore, in a development of the proposed method the steps of themethod are carried out in an area of the galley that is directlyaccessible to a user of the galley. A directly accessible area of thegalley is understood to be an area that can be accessed or reached forthe purpose of carrying out the method steps without conversions and/orthe opening of doors, apart from the removal of a front panel of thevent-outlet fitting that may be present.

The invention includes any combination of the developments describedabove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To elucidate the proposed vent-outlet fitting, wall element, andflushing method, embodiments will now be described with reference to thefigures that follow.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the proposedvent-outlet fitting;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of the proposed vent-outletfitting that is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of a proposed wall element withan embodiment of the proposed vent-outlet fitting included therein;

FIG. 4 is a large-scale view of a section along line A-A of the wallelement shown in FIG. 3 with the vent-outlet fitting included therein;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the front view of the wall elementillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and of the vent-outlet fitting configuredfor normal venting mode;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a front view of the wall element shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 and of the vent-outlet fitting configured for flushingmode with flushing-fluid line coupled therewith;

FIG. 7 in a perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the proposedvent-outlet fitting;

FIG. 8 shows the vent-outlet fitting from FIG. 7 in a top view (lefthalf) and in section (right half);

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cover of an embodiment of the proposedvent-outlet fitting formed as a cap.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the cover shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a section taken line A-A of the cover shown in FIGS. 9 and10; and

FIG. 12 is a view of a drinking-water supply system of an aircraft thathas been shown in a technically simplified manner with an embodiment ofthe proposed vent-outlet fitting in a galley with a sink.

In the figures, identical or similar components are designated with thesame reference symbols throughout.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the proposedvent-outlet fitting. The vent-outlet fitting 1 has on its rear end anintake pipe 2 with an intake port 3. The intake pipe 2 is designed to becoupled with an unillustrated vent line and to take in a vent fluid fromthe vent line. A flushing connection 5 is provided on the outer end ofthe vent-outlet fitting 1. A cover 4 is mounted or positioned on thefront end of the flushing connection 5 such that at least part of theportion of the flushing connection 5 provided for connection to aflushing-fluid line is covered and/or blocked by the cover 4. The cover4 has a vent port 6 that is formed by a plurality of through holes withdiameters of 0.8 mm. The vent-outlet fitting 1 also has a U-shaped bentholding plate 7 with angled end legs into which a base body 10 (see FIG.7) of the vent-outlet fitting has been inserted on the rear end in orderto mount the vent-outlet fitting 1. The base body 10 is fixed to theholding plate 7 by a nut 8 that is mounted from the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting on the base body 10.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of the vent-outlet fitting 1 that is shown in aperspective view in FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIG. 2, a nut-likehexagonal collar 9 of the base body 10 forms a counter-bearing forfixing the holding plate 7 on the side turned away from the nut 8.

The vent-outlet fitting 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed to convey avent fluid from the intake port 3 through a flow passage provided in thebase body 10 and formed as a through hole with a different insidediameter to the vent port 6. When the cover 4 is removed from theflushing connection 5, a flushing-fluid line can be coupled with theflushing connection 5, and a flushing fluid can be conveyed through theflow passage in the base body 10 from the flushing connection 5 to theintake port 3.

FIG. 3 shows a view from outside of an embodiment of a proposed wallelement with an embodiment of the proposed vent-outlet fitting includedtherein. The wall element 12 shown in FIG. 3 is provided for example inorder to be mounted above a sink in a galley of an aircraft. A drinkingwater shut-off switch 13 and an embodiment of the proposed vent-outletfitting are integrated into a panel 22 of the wall element 12. Thevent-outlet fitting is basically identical to the vent-outlet fittingshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it also has a front panel 14 on its outerend that is fixed to the wall panel 22 by mounting screws 15.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view along line A-A of the wall elementshown in FIG. 3 with the vent-outlet fitting included therein. Thevent-outlet fitting 1 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a preferably integralbase body 10 in which a flow passage 20 extends from the intake port 3to a feed opening 19 of the flushing connection 5.

FIG. 4 shows the vent-outlet fitting 1 in the configuration for normalventing mode, not for flushing mode. The cover 4 formed as a perforatedcap is mounted on the outer periphery of the flushing connection 5. Anelastic ring 17 is recessed in the inner periphery of the cover 4constitutes removal-inhibiting means as proposed above for preventingunintended removal of the cover 4 mounted on the flushing connection 5.The cover 4 is provided with a plurality of through holes 16 withdiameters of 0.8 mm that form the vent port 6 on the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting 1. A vent fluid made from the intake port 3 canemerge through the flow passage 20 and through the through holes 16 ofthe cover 4 at the vent port 6 on the outer end of the vent-outletfitting 1.

The front panel or cover 14 is mounted on the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting 1 that is fixed in place by the two mounting screws15 that are screwed into a section 30 of the wall element 12. The frontpanel 14 has an opening 24 through which the cover 4 passes with itsfront portion at the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting 1. Since thecover 4 has a tapered portion at its front end and/or an outwardlyprojecting rim at the rear end turned toward the vent-outlet fitting,the fixed front panel 14 secures the cover 4 against unintended removalfrom the flushing connection 5. Either an air gap to the outer peripheryof the cover 4 can be provided between the edge of the opening 24 of thefront panel 14, or the cover 4 is fitted into the opening of the frontpanel 14 and/or received in the opening. The embodiment of the proposedvent-outlet fitting shown in FIG. 4 is constructed such that the frontpanel 14 can be attached to the cover 4 that is mounted on the flushingconnection 5 and held temporarily by the cover 4 until it is fixed inplace by screwing in the mounting screws in.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of a front view of the wall element shown in FIGS.3 and 4 and of the vent-outlet fitting configured for normal ventingmode. The front panel 14 is fixed to the wall panel 22 by the twomounting screws 15. A front portion of the cover 4 formed as aperforated cap includes the vent port 6, and the cover 4 mounted on theouter periphery of the flushing connection 5 (not visible in FIG. 5),extends through the opening 24 of the front panel 14 at the outer end ofthe vent-outlet fitting 1.

Moreover, the embodiment of the proposed vent-outlet fitting 1 shown inFIG. 5 has a leak indicator for normal venting mode formed as lettering25 beneath the vent port 6 that indicates a leak.

In order for the vent-outlet fitting 1 shown for the sake of example inFIG. 4 to be in the configuration for flushing mode, that is, not fornormal venting mode, the front panel 14 must be removed from the wallpanel 22 as shown in FIG. 6 and the cover 4 removed from the flushingconnection 5. In order to execute flushing mode, a flushing-fluid line55 can then be coupled with the flushing connection 5 that can beaccessed on the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting 1. For connectingthe flushing-fluid line 55 with the flushing-fluid line 5, according forexample to standard ABS1169 of the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, theflushing connection 5 has on its outer periphery a fastening formation18 formed by a radially projecting ridge of the flushing connection.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the proposed vent-outletfitting in a perspective exploded view as well as in a top view (lefthalf of FIG. 8) and in cross section (right half of FIG. 8). Incomparison to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the embodimentof FIGS. 7 and 8 only the arrangement of the mounting screws 15 and theshape of the front panel 14 have changed.

FIGS. 9 to 11 are detailed views of the cover 4 that is perforated withthrough holes 16 and provided on its inner periphery with theremoval-inhibiting means 17 formed by an elastic ring partly recessed inits inner surface.

FIG. 12 is a view of an aircraft drinking-water supply system shown in atechnically simplified manner with an embodiment of the proposedvent-outlet fitting in a galley. A galley 90 is shown in FIG. 12 by wayof example in part by a galley component comprised of a sink 91 and therear wall 22. An embodiment of the proposed vent-outlet fitting 1 ismounted on the wall 22 such that the outer end of the vent-outletfitting 1 is directly visible to and accessible by a user of the galley.

In the drinking-water supply system shown in FIG. 12, a drinking waterline 61 connected to a drinking water tank (not shown) is connected to amanifold 62. A water filter [63] is connected to the manifold 62 forfeeding drinking water through a drinking-water supply line 64 to aself-venting tap 65 for dispensing drinking water.

Moreover, an additional drinking-water supply line 66 of thedrinking-water supply system is connected to the manifold 62 that iscoupled with a vent valve 80 of the drinking-water supply system.Additional points of use of the drinking-water supply system areconnected to the drinking-water supply line 66 via connectors and/orfittings. These points of use can be steam ovens or beverage-preparationdevices, for example, that use drinking water supplied via thedrinking-water supply line 66 in order to produce steam and/orbeverages. In FIG. 12, only connections 68 for connecting the namedpoint-of-use devices to the drinking-water supply line 66 are shown.

The drinking-water supply line 66 is connected to the intake side of thevent valve 80. A vent line 67 is connected to the outlet side of thevent valve 80. A vent fluid, particularly air, can flow via the ventline 67 along in the drinking-water supply line 66 from the vent valve80 to the vent-outlet fitting 1. The vent line 67 can be coupled withthe intake pipe 2 of the vent-outlet fitting 1 by an AVS-Römer ELSA plugconnection, for example.

The outer end of the vent-outlet fitting 1 is directly visible andreachable and positioned so as to be visible on the rear wall 22 of thegalley 90, parts of which are shown. The galley 90 is equipped with thesink 91 that is beneath the proposed vent-outlet fitting 1. In the eventof a leak through the vent valve 80, that is, when the vent fluidcontains not only air but also water, the water being fed via the ventline 67 emerges through the vent port 6 and is caught in the sink 91 ofthe galley 90 and discharged through a drain 92 provided in the sink.

In the case of a galley without a sink, that is, if the galley is onlyequipped with steam ovens or beverage preparation apparatuses, thevent-outlet fitting 1 is provided in a directly visible and accessiblearea of the galley, preferably adjacent a steam oven or a beveragepreparation apparatus.

The invention claimed is:
 1. In combination with of an aircraftdrinking-water supply system having a vent valve, a vent-outlet fittingcomprising: an intake port provided on a rear end of the vent-outletfitting for receiving a vent fluid from the vent valve; a vent port onan outer end of the vent-outlet fitting for feeding at least a portionof the vent fluid received to surroundings of the vent-outlet fitting; aflushing connection; and a cover releasably mounted on the flushingconnection and having at least one through hole, forming the vent portwhen mounted on the flushing connection, the flushing connection beingconfigured for connection to a flushing-fluid line at the outer end ofthe vent-outlet fitting and for introducing a flushing fluid through theflushing connection to the intake port of the vent-outlet fitting onlywhen the cover is removed from the flushing connection.
 2. Thevent-outlet fitting defined in claim 1, wherein the cover, when mountedon the flushing connection, at least partially covers a connectingportion of the flushing connection that is provided for connection tothe flushing-fluid line.
 3. The vent-outlet fitting defined in claim 1,wherein the cover is a perforated cap.
 4. The vent-outlet fittingdefined in claim 1, wherein the at least one through hole of the coverhas a maximum passage width or a maximum diameter of 0.8 mm.
 5. Thevent-outlet fitting defined in claim 1, wherein the cover or theflushing connection has removal-inhibiting means for preventingunintended removal of the cover mounted on the flushing connection fromsame.
 6. The vent-outlet fitting defined in claim 5, wherein theflushing connection has a fastening formation for connecting theflushing-fluid line by a quick-action fastener or a screw closure. 7.The vent-outlet fitting defined in claim 6, wherein both the fasteningformation and the removal-inhibiting means both serve for prevention ofunintended removal of the cover that is mounted on the flushingconnection from same.
 8. The vent-outlet fitting defined in claim 1,further comprising: a removable front panel on an outer end of thefitting and that, when in the mounted state, protects the cover mountedon the flushing connection against removal from same.
 9. The vent-outletfitting defined in claim 8, wherein the cover is or can be integrated atleast partially into the front panel.
 10. The vent-outlet fittingdefined in claim 8, wherein the front panel is configured to be held bythe cover or the flushing connection on the outer end of the fitting.11. The vent-outlet fitting defined in claim 1, further comprising: aleak indicator at or adjacent the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting.12. A wall element for a galley of an aircraft, the wall element havingthe vent-outlet fitting defined in claim 1, the wall element beinginstallable in the galley with the outer end of the vent-outlet fittingdirectly reachable by and visible to a user of the galley.
 13. The wallelement defined in claim 12, wherein the wall element is providedadjacent a sink of the galley or forms the sink at least in part, andthe vent-outlet fitting is provided above, at, or in the sink of thegalley in order to catch liquid emerging at the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting in the sink.
 14. A method of flushing an aircraftdrinking-water supply system having a vent valve and, connected to theintake port of the vent-outlet fitting defined in claim 1 that isprovided particularly in a galley of the aircraft for the purpose ofreceiving and venting a vent fluid, the method comprising the followingsteps: removing the cover of the vent-outlet fitting from the flushingconnection of the vent-outlet fitting; connecting a flushing-fluid lineto the flushing connection on the outer end of the vent-outlet fitting;and introducing a flushing fluid from the connected flushing-fluid lineinto the flushing connection via the intake port of the vent-outletfitting to the vent valve.
 15. The method defined in claim 14, wherein,in order to carry out the steps of the method, maintenance staff accessthe cover and the flushing connection only from the outer end of thevent-outlet fitting.
 16. The method defined in claim 14, wherein thesteps of the method are carried out in an area of the galley that isdirectly accessible to a user of the galley.